Gateshead Minewater Heat Network

The Gateshead mine water heat network, operated by the council‑owned Gateshead Energy Company, currently supplies 23 buildings and 350 homes, with plans to expand to 270 private homes, a manufacturing site and commercial buildings. By turning disused coal workings 150 metres below the town into a reliable low‑carbon heat source, the project is helping to create jobs, support local economic stability and deliver a more just transition to net zero. It is the largest mine water heat network in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, demonstrating what is possible for coalfield communities across the country. A 6 megawatt water‑source heat pump recovers warmth from mine water at around 15–16°C and boosts it to around 80°C, distributing heat through over 5 km of district heating pipes to homes, offices and public buildings including Gateshead College and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

The system has been designed with space for future cooling and further expansion as new loads connect to the network. Supported throughout by the Coal Authority, which owns and manages the disused coal-mining infrastructure on behalf of the UK government, Gateshead is also the home of The Living Laboratory, a research hub which provides rare data on mine heat to researchers around the world.